A Heroine of France

ning holy water stood before him on the table; the book of the Blessed Gospels was in his hands, a boy with a taper stood at his side. The place w

t however that may have been, her face wore that calm and lofty serenity of expression which seemed to belong to her. As she approach

men have, ere this, been deceived--yea, even the holy Saints themselves have been tempted of the devil, that old serpent, who is the great deceiver of the he

ut a beautiful look of reverent,

o speaks to me through His most holy and blessed Sai

itten in the Holy Scriptures that the devil c

t also written that those who put their tr

uty to try and test the spirits, so as to be a rock of defence to those ben

those forms of exorcism and adjuration which, it is said, no evil spirit can endure without crying aloud, or causing tha

me it seemed almost like sacrilege, in face of that pure and holy calm, to entertain for one moment a doubt of the origin of her mission. Yet it may be tha

here was aught of evil in her. Truly she is a marvellous Maid

heart the ecclesiastics were to receive her testimony and recognise in her the messenger of the Most High than were the soldiers, whether the generals whom she afterwards came to know, or the men who crowded to fight beneath her banne

ee her safely home; an

air Maid, that he should thu

ed to do it. For he did hear my confession on Friday. Therefore he should have known

s prayed of her to come and visit their sick children, or to speak words of comfort to those in pain and suffering; and such was the comfort and strength she brought with her, that there were whispers of miraculous cures being performed by her. In truth, I have no knowledge myself of any miracle performed b

d with blinding snow storms, were almost incessant, the country lay partially under water, and though such a journey might be possible to a seasoned soldier, he declared it would be rank murder to send a you

ords with grave regret

t De Baudricourt, although he now faithfully promised to send

non to ask advice what he should do, and desired to await his return ere act

f the church at Vaucouleurs, where stood an image of Our Lady, before which she would kneel sometimes for hours together in rapt devotion. I m

minished in value from the wasting war and misfortunes of the country. Still we resolved to muster each a few men-at-arms, and form for her a small train; for De Baudricourt, albeit willing to send her with a small escort to Chinon, had neither the wish nor the power to equip any sort o

work she had in hand, and we made many fanciful plans of robing her after the fashion of some old-time queen, such as Boadicea or Semiramis, and won

g of this to the Maid herself, she s

e the dress of a boy, since I must needs live for a while amongst soldiers and men. I am sent to do a man's work, therefore in the garb of a man must I set fo

ionship of men. She must needs ride, since there was no other way of travelling possible; and why shoul

h such grace, such ease, such simplicity, that it seemed at once the right and fitting thing; and not one of the soldiers in the courtyard who watched her feats that day, passed so much as a rude jest upon her, far less offered her any

d she gave marvellous proof of it now. She possessed also that power over her horse which she exercised over men, and each charger that she rode in turn answered almost at once to her voice and hand, with a docility he never showed to other riders. Yet she never smote o

ully, her heart was ever set upon her

t sally forth

gs as might be useful to her; and towards the end of the month there came a pere

been prophesied, is to arise and save France. I have a great curiosity to see her; wherefore, I pray you, send her to me without delay

f Leroyer, taking Bertrand and me with him, to ask of the Maid whether she would go to see the Duke at h

to my home for a certain holiday suit and light armour made for a brother of mine who had died young. I had noted that the Maid had just such a slim, tall figure as he, and was certain that this suit, laid away by our mother in a cedar chest, would fit her a

ng loose upon her shoulders, and the laughing child had got his little hands well twisted in the waving mass, upon which the midday sun was shining clear and stro

s silent for a brief

may not be yet, I will gladly go to the Duke, if I may but turn aside to make my pi

lacked gentleness. But she never evinced fear of him, and for that he respected her. She showed plenty of good sense whilst the details of the journey were being arranged, and was

on the very next day, the sun shining bright, and the wind blowing fresh from the

and an eye that could be either mild or fierce, according to the fashion in which he was treated. On his brow was a curious mark, something like a cross in shape, and the colour of it was something deeper than the chestnut of his coat. The Maid marked t

in fasting and vigil, and laid thereon a little simple offering, such as her humble state permitted. The next day she was presented to t

the more open curiosity or admiration bestowed upon her by the lords and ladies assembled out of desire to see h

t the edges with gold where the light touched it. Her simple boy's dress was splashed and travel stained; but her wonderful serene composure was as marked here as it had been throughout.

lf on his elbow the b

aid of Lorraine, raised up, according to the word of the w

eans, to bring the Dauphin to Rheims, and there see the crown set upon his head. This I know, for my L

ver trumpet through the room, and the lord

erself--the Maid who

on that face, the glorious shining in those eyes, was enough to convince th

n his pillows, regar

the future, tell me, shall I recov

ich your sins have drawn upon you. Turn to the Lord in penitence. Do His will. Be reconciled to your wife; for such is the commandment of God.

for her very life at the hands of their irate lord. He had done many

e said, "I have my Lord'

nitence for his past life. I have heard he made a better end than was expected of him when his time came. And before the Maid left the Castle he sent h

s improving, we had great hopes of soon starting forth upon the journey for Chinon. Nevertheless, the streams were still much swollen, and in some places the ground was so soft that it quak

the Maid slipped from her horse ere any could help her, and went straight in

ht hard by the city of Orleans, and the arms of the French have suffered disaster and disgrace. If this go on, the hearts of the soldiers will be as water,

speak, girl?" asked De Baudricourt, s

have met with disaster. The English have triumphed, and I still waste my t

ho commands. We heard it often enough later; but this was the

hing be so, he will quickly meet some messenger with the news. If it be as you have said, if this battl

d turned herself to the chapel, w

m. It was he who nine days later entered Vaucouleurs again, weary and jaded, but

d well-nigh destroying them. The English were but a small party, convoying herrings to the besiegers of Orleans. The ground was strewn with herrings after the fight, which men call the Battle of

at last like an angry lion; "and may the God she trust